3 Things I Love and Hate About the Top 30 Players In the Draft

These are essentially mini-scouting reports for the top 30 NBA Draft prospects. Here are some of the good and bad traits that some will take into the draft. My final list of the top 100 prospects in the draft can be found here.

1. Markelle Fultz (Washington PG)

Scoring ability. He has a great pull-up game, can finish through contact, and is adept at creating significant separation off the bound

Has composure and a quiet confidence about him. Doesn’t get rattled

IQ in the pick-and-roll is off the charts

Inconsistent defender

Was on a terrible college team, though most of that was due to underwhelming help. Leads by example but isn’t the most vocal leader right now

Struggled as a FT shooter

2. Lonzo Ball (UCLA PG)

Vision and passing ability are once in a generation skills

Brings the best out of his teammates

Has some of the deepest shooting range in the draft

His dad is going to talk his son into being punked

Average athleticism limits his ability as an on-ball defender

He has a $500 pair of signature shoes that he doesn’t even wear

3. Josh Jackson (Kansas SF)

Versatility is off the charts. Can be elite in multiple areas

Defensive expert that will be able to guard 4 spots in the NBA

A savage competitiveness that resembles Kevin Garnett

Is a bit of a headcase, with some legal issues and emotional outbursts

Jump shot needs serious adjustments

Handle is still raw

4. Jayson Tatum (Duke SF)

Scoring machine. Can be a 20-point scorer within three years

Excellent mid-range shooter

Has the length to be a small-ball four

Can turn into a ball-stopper that settles for tough pull-ups

Too lax of a defender with the length he possesses

Good passer that doesn’t pass. Very Melo-like in that regard

5. De’Aaron Fox (Kentucky PG)

A flash with the ball in his hands

Has a killer mentality on defense. Takes pride in shutting down opposing point guards

Really good touch on his floater

Decent looking shot, but has no consistency on his jumper

Very slight for a 6’4 guard

Sometimes forces it in transition against numbers

6. Malik Monk (Kentucky SG)

Can put up points all day

He’s got guts to perform in big moments

Explosive athlete

Doesn’t crash the glass as much as he should

Defensively disengaged when not going for steals

Creates well off the bounce, but can spend too much time dancing with the ball

7. Jonathan Isaac (Florida State SF)

Lanky 6’11 wing with serious athleticism

Defensive potential is endless. Could guard like Kevin Durant did in the Finals.

Has a repeatable, smooth shooting form

Invisible in some games

Incredibly thin

Has star potential but also could turn into a middle of the road role player

8. Dennis Smith (NC State PG)

In the same athletic area code as Russell Westbrook

Comfortable scoring off the dribble in isolation situations

Is constantly looking for steal opportunities

Often gets tunnel vision and misses open teammates

Should be a better defender but doesn’t focus on that end

Needs some veteran leadership to teach him how to run a team

9. Lauri Markannen (Arizona PF)

Lethal, compact shooting stroke

Can create off the dribble

Light on his feet

Disappointing rebounder

Offers zero rim protection

Plays softer than his physique suggests

10. Frank Ntilikina (France PG)

Length, quickness, and smarts make him a defensive stud

Doesn’t waste movement on either end

Is still only 18 but has maturity from playing pro since 15

Not too physical

His potential isn’t more than a third or fourth scoring option

Three-point stroke is a work in progress

11. Zach Collins (Gonzaga C)

Has a mean streak

Great rim protector

If effective scoring as a rim runner, pick-and-pop shooter, or back-to-basket scorer

Lacks a strong lower body

Isn’t an elite leaper

Tends to get into foul trouble

12. Justin Patton (Creighton C)

Runs the floor like a gazelle

Good touch

Has the most potential of any big in the draft and the work ethic to fulfill it

Still very raw physically and mentally

Doesn’t have good counters in the post

His effort wavers too much

13. Donovan Mitchell (Louisville SG)

Tremendous athlete

A pitbull on defense

Will put in the time to become a viable scoring option

Shooting is very streaky at this point

Handle isn’t very tight

Very undersized for a two guard

14. OG Anunoby (Indiana SF)

Can put the clamps on grown men in the NBA

Rebounds on both ends

Plays with a lot of heart

May never develop a jumper and be a reborn Andre Roberson

The injuries may linger forever

Handle is loose

15. Isaiah Hartenstein (Germany PF/C)

Will be the second biggest (7-foot-1) four man in the NBA behind Porzingis

He is physical, agile, and versatile

One of the best passing bigs in the draft

He still acts like a kid

Skills are there, but he needs a good amount of fine-tuning

Very left hand dependent

16. Jarrett Allen (Texas C)

Massive wingspan

Shows flashes of power around the rim

Rebounds out of his area

Doesn’t always play with the passion you want out of a young big

Doesn’t stand out in big moments

The 1970’s afro isn’t really a look anymore

17. Luke Kennard (Duke SG)

Is the most pure shooter in the draft

Great coming off screens

Doesn’t stop firing during shooting slumps

Will be a solid team defender at best

Almost every dribbling move comes back to his left hand

Really lacking in size and overall athleticism

18. T.J. Leaf (UCLA PF)

Can score from all three levels

Good playmaker that can handle the ball

Plays with the toughness and motor required to compete as an NBA post

Doesn’t have strong legs

Athletic but not quick laterally

May struggle finding a position to guard

19. Terrance Ferguson (Australia SG)

He is a human pogo stick

Is comfortable being a 3-and-D player

Has a 6’7 frame that will only add pounds

Needs some meat on his bones

Can’t do much off the bounce

Skipped college for an Australian league with less talent

20. Justin Jackson (North Carolina SF)

Great floater game

Comes off screens with ease

Solid, engaged defender

Has been mentally fragile in the past

May never be a starter-level player

Can be very timid at times

21. Anzejs Pasecniks (Latvia C)

Great size at 7’2

Nice touch from all three levels

Moves up and down the floor effortlessly

Needs to continue to gain strength

Isn’t much of a passer

Hasn’t seen NBA level talent yet

22. John Collins (Wake Forest PF)

Will fill up the scoring column wherever he goes

Good shooting form

Strong frame

Doesn’t play a lick of defense

Rebounding could be more consistent

Passing leaves a lot to be desired

23. Harry Giles (Duke PF)

Tremendous rebounder

Plays with a lot of energy and activity

Good finisher at the rim

Knees are a huge question

If healthy he could become a starter. But his downside is out of the league in a few years

Doesn’t have the agility or confidence that he had two years ago (understandably so)

24. Ike Anigbogu (UCLA C)

Strong, impressive athlete

Finishes lobs better than anyone in the draft

Potential to be an elite rim protector and rebounder

Incredibly raw

Had little game experience at UCLA

Doesn’t have any game outside of 5 feet right now

25. Tony Bradley (UNC Center)

Top of the line offensive rebounder

Good scoring ability in the paint

7’5 wingspan

Not athletic

Not much of a shooter

Is vying for time in an era of declining true centers

26. Ivan Rabb (California PF)

His activity on the glass is impressive

Mobility may allow him to be useful guarding pick-and-rolls

Good IQ

Still too skinny to play center

Not great at anything

Doesn’t finish through contact

27. Tyler Lydon (Syracuse PF)

Really good three-point shooter

Can guard multiple positions with his length

Doesn’t look totally out of place handling the ball on the perimeter

Must put on more muscle to get more minutes as a four

Must improve his handle and conditioning to get more minutes as a three